Russia warns Ukraine not to take transit gas

MOSCOW, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would reduce gas transit to Europe if Ukraine were to start syphoning off gas from transit pipelines.

Russia has been stepping up pressure on Kiev over gas issues in recent weeks, but this was the first time Putin has mentioned cuts to gas transit to Europe after a pricing dispute with Ukraine left the continent short of gas last January. (Reporting by Gleb Bryanski, writing by DMitry Zhdannikov, editing by Robin Paxton)